Written Answers

Thursday 28 September 2000

Scottish Executive

Access to Information

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8542 by Sarah Boyack on 19 July 2000, whether it can provide any additional information, such as title or category of document, about the papers which have been exempted from the commitment to provide information under the terms of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.

Sarah Boyack: Further to the answer I gave on 19 July 2000 in response to question S1W-8542, a range of documents relating to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd matters are not copied to SPICe on the grounds that disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussions within the Scottish Executive. Such documents may express internal opinion, advice, recommendation, consultation or deliberation, all of which are exempted from disclosure under the terms of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the consultation period will be for the codes of practice and regulations under Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act.

Mr Jim Wallace: We intend to allow at least three months for consultation on the code of practice and regulations under Part 5. It has not been possible to publish the code and regulations in accordance with the timetable originally posted on the Adults with Incapacity website but, as Part 5 will not be commenced until summer 2001, the deadline for responses will be adjusted to reflect the later publication date.

Agriculture

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to restructure the hill farming sector.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is currently working with the industry to produce a strategy for a sustainable farming industry in Scotland.

  I cannot anticipate what proposals might emerge in relation to hill farming.

Agriculture

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when farmers can expect to receive their arable aid, oilseeds support and set-aside payments for 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Ross Finnie: Payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) 1999 in respect of oilseeds commenced on 1 September 1999 and in respect of cereals, linseed, protein crops and set-aside commenced on 18 October. The vast majority of payments were made within a short period after payment start date. Payment of the second instalment of agri-monetary compensation to AAPS 1999 claimants is scheduled to commence in October 2000. Under the AAPS 2000 Scheme, the intention is to start payments from mid November 2000.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance was given and to which organisations to obtain and maintain a direct air link between Scotland and Vienna.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has provided no assistance to any organisation to obtain and maintain a direct air link between Scotland and Vienna. The Scottish Tourist Board has, however, provided some financial support towards the promotion of this service.

Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposed move to two-stage testing for algal toxins in scallops which is currently under consideration by the EU.

Susan Deacon: Responsibility for this issue rests with the Food Standards Agency, with the Scottish arm taking the lead on European negotiations. The agency’s primary concern is to ensure the protection of public health, whilst also ensuring that its actions are proportionate in respect of their impact on industry. Any new regime must be capable of satisfying both objectives. In addition, the FSA continues to explore and have discussions regarding possible development of the testing regime.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be applied to prioritise the allocation of the funds being made available from 2001-02 for the provision of central heating for pensioners.

Mr Frank McAveety: I am convening a group to determine how the central heating initiative will be implemented. It will include representatives of the power companies and relevant charities. This is one of the issues which will be considered.

Customs and Excise

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any proposed relocation of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Collection and Co-ordination Unit in Paisley would have on its efforts to tackle drug problems in the north east of Scotland, in particular as regards any implications any such proposal would have for the co-ordination between agencies of local intelligence relating to drugs, and whether it has received any reassurances from Her Majesty’s Government on these issues.

Mr Jim Wallace: HM Customs and Excise have sought to give assurances that a reduction in the number of Collection and Co-ordination Units would have no effect on the ability of HM Customs and Excise to mount anti-drugs operations in Scotland.

Digital Technology

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in considering what action is necessary to ensure that digital technology is available in all areas of Scotland.

Henry McLeish: This is a major strategic decision for the Executive. As announced in the Executive’s response to the Digital Scotland Taskforce report, we plan a series of discussions with the Enterprise Agencies and telecoms providers in the autumn of this year.

Education

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to clarify parents’ rights to withdraw their children from school and educate them at home and councils’ interpretation of sections 30 and 35(i) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We have accepted that guidance in this area would be helpful and the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, which comes into force later this year includes provision to issue statutory guidance on the circumstances in which parents may choose to educate their children at home. My officials are currently consulting education authorities and home education organisations on the areas that should be covered and we plan to issue draft guidance for consultation by the end of the year.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it gives to the teaching of swimming in primary schools and whether it has any plans to introduce a national programme of teaching primary children to swim.

Mr Sam Galbraith: In Scotland the curriculum is not prescribed by statute and it is for local authorities and schools to decide on the allocation of resources for particular areas of the curriculum.

  The Expressive Arts 5-14 guidelines state that it is generally agreed that most pupils should have the opportunity to learn to swim at some time during their primary schooling. Pupils should be taught to be competent in at least one stroke and should learn basic water safety and life-saving skills.

  There are no plans to introduce a national programme of teaching primary children to swim.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities provide swimming lessons for primary children as part of the curriculum.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This information is not collected centrally.

Elderly People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Ministers have met organisations representing older people since the establishment of the Parliament to discuss the impact of council tax on older people and, if so, which Ministers.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Deputy Ministers for Communities and Community Care regularly meet with organisations representing older people to discuss issues of concern. To date council tax has not been raised as an issue.

Employment Tribunals Service

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary was of Mrs Littlejohn, President of the Employment Tribunals Service, in the period between 1 October 1999 and the date of her retirement in the spring of 2000.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were made with respect to the time which Mrs Littlejohn gave to her work as President of the Employment Tribunals Service following commencement of her Chairmanship of an NHS Trust.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were which Mrs Littlejohn gave for terminating her role as President of the Employment Tribunal Service and on what date did she give notice.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to this matter. Ministerial responsibility for Employment Tribunals rests with the UK Government and specifically with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Energy Efficiency

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-1415 and S1W-7180 by Henry McLeish on 10 November 1999 and 3 July 2000 respectively, which technologies relevant to emission standards from road vehicles are promoted through the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EEBPP), what funding it contributes, and from which budget, to the EEBPP and what information is made available to the public about specific devices, or tests carried out by or for the EEBPP on specific devices.

Henry McLeish: No such technologies are promoted at the moment. The EEBPP may promote technologies if they are proven to deliver emission savings. In the meantime, its focus is on promoting management measures like driver training, which have a proven record of delivering savings.

  The Executive does not contribute funding to the EEBPP, which is funded entirely by DETR. The programme does not carry out tests. It evaluates test data provided by manufacturers, and to date there are no publications available on fuel-saving devices because they have not been proven to work. However, the EEBPP has recently commissioned a study by a transport consultancy into test parameters for fuel-saving devices. The results should be published by the end of the year.

Enterprise

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to give priority to the situations facing small and medium size enterprises in terms of technical and financial obstacles to the development and use of clean technology in relation to the environment.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive provides significant support to small and medium size enterprises across a range of activities. Investment in clean technology is amongst the spending which qualifies for such assistance.

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the First Minister what the priorities are for investment in enterprise and lifelong learning.

Donald Dewar: The Executive’s priorities for investment in enterprise and lifelong learning over the next three years are to increase access to learning and skills for all Scotland’s people; to drive forward new initiatives which will place Scotland at the leading edge of new technologies and to improve Scotland’s competitive position through increased productivity. To enable us to deliver on these key strategic priorities, the department’s spending will increase by over £300 million, to £2.27 billion by 2003-04.

Environment

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to protect and enhance Scotland’s beaches.

Sarah Boyack: We are taking action on a number of fronts to protect and improve Scotland’s beaches and bathing waters in order to encourage tourism and recreation.

  Our Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring Scotland’s 60 designated bathing waters up to European standards. Improvements in sewerage infrastructure are already showing results but we cannot be complacent. The water authorities’ substantial investment programme of £1.8 billion over this and the next two financial years will result in, among other things, further improvements through better sewage treatment standards and will dramatically reduce pollution from point sources. We are also working with a range of interested parties, particularly from agriculture, to tackle the remaining issues.

  Building on their substantial investment in wastewater treatment, the three Scottish water authorities have developed initiatives to promote cleaner beaches, involving local communities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and interest groups.

  The Executive also provides grant aid to the environmental group Keep Scotland Beautiful which carries out anti-litter initiatives and local authority training programmes.

Erskine Bridge

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8356 by Sarah Boyack on 13 July 2000, whether Counsel has now raised court proceedings against those considered to be responsible for damage to the Erskine Bridge and whether it will name the parties to these proceedings.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has identified the parties considered responsible for damaging Erskine Bridge. However, it is not considered appropriate to release information on the parties who will be named in the summons until the summons is served.

Exam Results

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by subject of the appeals expected in relation to this year’s exam results.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This information is not yet available, but I will ask the Chairman of the Scottish Qualifications Authority to reply to the member when the figures are available.

Fisheries

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the changes to the Common Fisheries Policy envisaged in the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations’ proposals for zonal management submitted to it could be achieved within the existing Treaty provisions.

Mr John Home Robertson: Some of the proposals set out in the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations report on zonal management could not be accommodated within the existing Treaty provisions.

  For example, their proposal that the power to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) should be transferred from the Council of Ministers to the each Zonal Management Committee would require fundamental changes to the Treaties.

Fisheries

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals for zonal management proposed by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations.

Mr John Home Robertson: I support wholeheartedly the principle of enhancing the regional dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy that is set out in the report entitled Zonal Management – A new vision for Europe’s Fisheries produced by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations. However, I cannot sign up to all of the detail. In particular I cannot support proposals that would entail fundamental changes to the existing Treaty provisions.

Fuel

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency planning powers available to it have been invoked in the current fuel situation.

Henry McLeish: None. The powers which were used during the recent fuel supply emergency to designate filling stations are reserved powers under the Energy Act 1976, and the various Orders were made by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Fuel Costs

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the impact of taxation on fuel on the haulage industry in Scotland and, if so, what response it received.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including that of the impact of taxation of fuel on the haulage industry in Scotland. Discussions between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government are held on the basis of strict confidentiality.

Gaelic

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage the recruitment and training of more Gaelic medium teachers.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has written to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council drawing attention to the fact that the supply of Gaelic medium teachers continued to be a priority of Scottish Ministers. The council were asked to assist in promoting provision in this area.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the details of the submissions that it received before the decision was taken to site a trial of genetically modified oil seed rape at Rosskill by Munlochy.

Ross Finnie: In accordance with normal practice, the advice to Scottish Ministers from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is published on the Scottish Executive’s website.

  As well as ACRE, the Scottish Executive has also received advice from the Health & Safety Executive, the Food Standards Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, who were all satisfied that the trials did not give rise to environmental concerns. In addition to this formal advice, nine representations were received from the public about the farm scale evaluations generally, following notification of the proposed sites on 3 August.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal recourse or right to compensation a farmer has who finds his crops to be contaminated with genetically modified DNA.

Ross Finnie: There are currently no provisions in Scots or UK law covering liability for damage caused specifically by genetically modified organisms. However, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, there are powers to prosecute a consent holder where the limitations and conditions attached to the consent are breached. Compensation would be a matter for the civil courts in determining an ordinary action brought by an affected farmer for negligent harm done to him or his business or for nuisance.

  The Scottish Executive’s priority is to protect human health and the environment. Consent is not granted if there is any prospect of a GM release giving rise to environmental harm.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the GM Crop trial at Roskill Farm, Munlochy.

Ross Finnie: The programme of farm scale evaluations is organised and funded on a UK basis and detailed budgetary information is not available at individual farm level.

  The total cost of the three-year UK programme is £3.3 million, to which the Scottish Executive is contributing £0.2 million. The main contributors are the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give that farmers whose crops are accidentally cross pollinated from GM crop trials cannot be sued by GM seed companies for breaches of patent.

Ross Finnie: This is not a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it consulted before allowing the GM crop trial at Roskill Farm, Munlochy to go ahead, how far in advance they were consulted and what questions they were asked.

Ross Finnie: I refer Mr Munro to my oral answer of 7 September to question S1O-2169 and my written answer of 19 September to question S1W-9461.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young chronically sick persons are in units specifically designed for the elderly, broken down by unit and by age of the young chronically sick patient.

Susan Deacon: In the NHS the term "young chronically sick" is taken to be the age group 16-64 – people defined as neither children nor elderly. Information on the number of patients aged under 65 in long stay units, at 31 December 1999 is shown by Trust and age group in the table below.

  


Number of Residents aged 64 years and under in NHS Geriatric 
Long Stay Units; 
as at 31 December 1999p







Age group1, 2




Trust/Unit Name 


0-24 


25-44 


45-64 


Under 65 




Scotland 


ll 


ll 


ll 


144 




Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 


- 


- 


7 


7 




Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 


ll 


ll 


ll 


1 




Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 


ll 


ll 


ll 


1 




Borders Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


- 


2 


2 




Argyll & Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 


- 


- 


6 


6 




Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


- 


2 


2 




Fife Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


- 


2 


2 




North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 


- 


- 


8 


8 




Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 


ll 


ll 


ll 


1 




Highland Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


4 


5 


9 




Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 


- 


- 


2 


2 




Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


- 


9 


9 




Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


4 


26 


30 




Orkney Health Board Unit 


ll 


ll 


ll 


11 




Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


- 


9 


9 




West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust 


ll 


ll 


ll 


6 




Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust 


ll 


ll 


ll 


8 




Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


- 


8 


8 




Dumfries & Galloway Primary Care NHS Trust 


- 


4 


15 


19 




Shetland Hospitals & Community Services Unit 


- 


- 


3 


3 




  Source: ISD Scotland (Form SMR50).

  p Provisional

  Notes:

  1. Age as at 31 December 1999.

  2. In units where a single patient is aged 64 years and under, the age group of the patient is not shown (this is presented in the table as "II").

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of ectodermal dysplasia have been recorded in each of the past five years.

Susan Deacon: Patients diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasias (ED) will be treated in a variety of NHS locations depending on the severity of their condition. Some will be seen in General Practice while others will be admitted to hospital and treated as an outpatient or an inpatient or day case.

  It is not possible to give figures for the past five years for hospital cases, as the current coding system only came into force in April 1996 and the previous one did not record ED separately. In the four-year period from April 1996 to March 2000, 17 patients with ED were seen, some more than once. Due to the small numbers involved, the records for these conditions are not broken down by year.

  GP records in a sample of 74 practices in Scotland show only one case of ED treated in the past three years. This would suggest about 12-13 cases treated by GPs in the whole of Scotland in that period. Records for previous years are not available.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what help and assistance is available within the NHSiS for people who have ectodermal dysplasia.

Susan Deacon: Ectodermal dysplasias (ED) are a group of rare genetic disorders characterised by abnormal development of the skin and associated structures, such as hair, teeth, nails, and sweat glands. Through the four Regional Genetics Advisory Centres, comprehensive specialist genetic services are available to all affected individuals and their families in Scotland. These services include assessment, diagnosis, the provision of molecular genetic tests (for those forms of ED for which they are available) genetic counselling and psycho-social support for families who need it.

  Although there is no specific treatment for the disorder, the various clinical manifestations which can occur because of the condition are managed by appropriate specialties within the NHS, as they arise.

Hepatitis C

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when its report on haemophiliacs and hepatitis C will be published.

Susan Deacon: I hope to be in a position to publish the report Hepatitis C and the Heat Treatment of Blood Products for Haemophiliacs in the mid-1980s very shortly.

Heritage

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take regarding the possible closure of the Miners’ Library in Wanlockhead.

Rhona Brankin: Funding of the Miners’ Library in the Lead Mining Museum is the responsibility of the Wanlockhead Museums Trust. However, we announced in the National Cultural Strategy a national audit of museum collections to inform the development of criteria for a restructuring of the sector, with the aim of establishing a sustainable funding framework for the future. Industrial museums will be given priority in this process. We have announced funding of £250,000 this year and £3 million over the next three years for these purposes.

International Organisations

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2981 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 April 2000, whether it will list, by Minister, the international organisations each has been in touch with since 1 July 1999 and when those contacts took place.

Donald Dewar: The question in this form could only be answered at disproportionate cost. We would be happy to consider requests for more specific information.

Lingerbay Quarry

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make copies of the Inquiry Reporter’s Report into the Lingerbay Quarry available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sarah Boyack: A copy of the report will be made available to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre when the decision on the application is notified to the applicant, the planning authority and other statutory parties to the Inquiry.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Marine Health Check report by Worldwide Fund for Nature, in particular the conclusion that the health of the marine environment is deteriorating, and what action it intends to take in response to this report.

Sarah Boyack: I have only received this report in the last week. I can assure Mr Harper that I will be studying it carefully.

  From a preliminary read it is clear that the report raises issues which go considerably beyond the competence of this Parliament. But I agree we need to take careful note of the report’s contents and ensure that they are fed into our policy considerations for the marine environment.

Modernising Government

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in relation to the Modernising Government agenda.

Mr Jack McConnell: On 10 July, I announced that 47 bids had been given initial approval to work up their proposals for the £25 million Modernising Government Fund. Bidders have until 29 September to submit their final bid, and I hope to announce details of the successful projects in the next few months.

  The Executive has put in hand a significant programme of internal change, and a parallel programme of civil service reform is underway.

  On 31 August, I announced that the Executive had been successful in securing an additional £3.58 million from Cabinet Office funds to support and accelerate this work.

  We also intend to publish shortly an Action Plan for taking forward 21st Century Government.

NHS Equipment

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the use of fixed and mobile magnetic resonance imaging machines in hospitals.

Susan Deacon: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are vital tools in aiding the diagnosis of cancer and other conditions. The Scottish Executive recently provided an additional £13.2 million of capital to health boards for the provision of new or replacement equipment in hospitals, of which £5 million was specifically for MRI scanners in the five main cancer centres in Scotland.

  It is open to health boards and Trusts to decide whether to purchase or lease fixed MRI scanners, or to rent or lease mobile scanners.

NHS Expenditure

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Tayside Health Board spent 14% of their capital allocation in 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: Capital resources of £6.7 million were made available for investment in the Tayside Health Board area in 1999-2000.

  In addition to £1 million of capital investment in the Tayside area in 1999-2000, £5.7million was transferred from capital to revenue budgets. A large element of the funds transferred were to fund schemes that, under accounting standards, do not add capital value to the NHSiS estate.

  I have tightened up the rules on capital to revenue transfers and from 2000-01, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.

NHS Expenditure

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8498 by Susan Deacon on 22 August 2000, whether it can identify, from each health board’s annual accounts, the amount and percentage of each health board’s budget used for national projects and priorities.

Susan Deacon: The annual accounts of each health board highlight expenditure on named specialties. It is not possible to separate spending on national projects and national priorities that are included in these speciality costs.

NHS Waiting Times

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what particular plans it has to reduce waiting lists in parts of Scotland where patients have been on waiting lists longer than 12 months.

Susan Deacon: Reducing waiting time for patients at each stage of their care is at the heart of the Executive’s plans for the modernisation and improvement of the NHS in Scotland. A small number of patients are currently waiting more than 12 months for inpatient and day case treatment. The Executive is determined to reduce this number. Substantial additional resources have been made available for this purpose and I have asked health board and NHS Acute Trust Chairmen to continue to give this the highest priority.

Planning

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7974 by Sarah Boyack on 13 September 2000, whether the National Roads Directorate will continue to require the upgrading of the A77/B743 junction as a condition for planning consents being granted for major developments in the Heathfield area of Ayr.

Sarah Boyack: When considering major developments in the Healthfield area of Ayr, the Scottish Executive will give due weight to the fact that Whitletts Roundabout currently experiences traffic congestion problems at peak times and any additional traffic generated by major developments in the area would significantly increase the problems at this location.

Prison Service

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many mistaken releases there were from each of Scotland’s prisons in each of 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  During the past three financial years there were 170,294 receptions to prison, with an average prisoner population of 5,864. The number of mistaken releases reported to SPS Headquarters during those three financial years was 13 and is broken down by establishments in the following table:

  





1997-98 


1998-99 


1999-2000 




Aberdeen 


0 


0 


0 




Barlinnie 


3 


2 


2 




Castle Huntly 


0 


0 


0 




Cornton Vale 


0 


0 


0 




Dumfries 


0 


0 


0 




Edinburgh 


0 


0 


3 




Glenochil 


0 


0 


0 




Greenock 


0 


0 


0 




Inverness 


0 


0 


0 




Kilmarnock 


- 


- 


0 




Low Moss 


0 


1 


0 




Noranside 


0 


0 


0 




Perth 


1 


1 


0 




Peterhead 


0 


0 


0 




Polmont 


0 


0 


0 




Shotts 


0 


0 


0 




Total 


4 


4 


5

Prison Service

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support mechanisms are available and what consultation or other formal arrangements exist between the prison and local social and health services to help prisoners who have undertaken drug rehabilitation whilst in prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  All prisons are required to have in place a range of support mechanisms to meet the aggregate needs of their populations. The recently published Scottish Prison Service revised drug strategy sets out in detail how this is being achieved.

  At the national level, the prison service plays a full part in the work of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM), and the Scottish Executive Drugs Forum, both chaired by the Deputy Minister for Justice, and both of which bring together the key players in this field.

  At the local level, all prisons are represented on the relevant Drugs Action Teams (DATs). All prisons have social work and health staff who work closely with their community colleagues over a range of issues, including drug rehabilitation. All prisons now have a Drug Strategy Co-ordinator to encourage partnership working and collaboration with other agencies.

Public Transport

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the use of public transport across Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: We are promoting public transport through a range of initiatives including:

  (i) doubling the Public Transport Fund to £60 million per annum by 2003-04;

  (ii) spending record sums to improve lifeline ferry and air services in the Highlands and Islands;

  (iii) securing a replacement Scottish passenger rail franchise;

  (iv) bringing forward the Transport (Scotland) Bill to deliver higher quality bus services, tackle urban congestion and deliver improved concessionary fares.

Roads

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total cost of the construction of the Malletsheugh–Dumbreck stretch of the M77 has been spent on compensation for noise and disruption to residents and to deal with air and noise pollution.

Sarah Boyack: £586,000, about 1% of the contract cost, has been spent so far on monetary and noise insulation compensation for depreciation of property value. Over 800 further claims are currently being negotiated.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress Glasgow City Council and South Lanarkshire Council have made towards a multi-modal study on the M74 northern extension.

Sarah Boyack: None. The councils have declined our invitations to broaden the A8 and A80 study to cover this corridor.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether alternatives to the proposed M74 northern extension which would generate less vehicle traffic, less pollution and less adverse impact on the environment of the communities of the south side of Glasgow are among the projects being considered by the Minister for Transport and the Environment in her transport spending review.

Sarah Boyack: The Public Transport Fund has been increased to enable councils to develop public transport initiatives.

Rural Affairs

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to protect the interests of anglers in Scotland.

Mr John Home Robertson: I have had meetings with the Scottish Anglers National Association, Scottish Campaign for Public Angling as well as a number of angling clubs over the past year, in connection with the Scottish Executive’s consultation on Protecting and Promoting Scotland’s Freshwater Fish and Fisheries . I also wrote directly to over 300 angling clubs. We are now considering responses to that consultation and I will report to Parliament shortly on that. Meanwhile, the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill will shortly be introduced to Parliament.

Scottish Executive Pension Schemes

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the gross annual impact of the abolition of advance corporation tax credit for pension funds was on its and the Scottish Office’s running costs in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 and what the estimated impact will be in 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: Staff employed by the Scottish Office and the Scottish Executive are eligible to be members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS), which is an unfunded scheme managed by the Cabinet Office. All participating employers are required to make payments to the Cabinet Office in respect of the accruing pension costs of their staff. Although pensions for members of the PCSPS are not funded in advance, the accruing pension costs borne by employers are assessed to be consistent with those which would apply in the private sector, and are therefore influenced by the total effect of the range of factors affecting funded pension schemes, including any effect which the advanced corporation tax changes might have had. However, the managers do not disaggregate the accruing pension charges, and the average contribution charged to employers has remained broadly unchanged since 1996.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of the report commissioned by it from Deloitte & Touche referred to in the Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Children and Education on 6 September 2000 and what their agreed rate of remuneration is per hour.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The value of the contract awarded to Deloitte and Touche is in the region of £80,000. As usual, the contract is based on the outputs which will be delivered, not the number of hours to be worked.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Children and Education on 6 September 2000 and in particular his reference to contact with schools and colleges regarding the Scottish Qualifications Authority being behind schedule in collecting internal assessment data, on what date it was first made aware by any such school or college, and by which schools or colleges, of any difficulties in the collection of internal assessment data.

Mr Sam Galbraith: As I said in my statement of 6 September, I became aware in March of problems reported by schools and colleges with the electronic transfer of information to SQA. These problems related mainly to the transmission of course and unit entries for candidates. Difficulties with the Phoenix software used by some schools were reported in the Daily Mail on 9 March. At a meeting of the Higher Still Development Unit’s education authority co-ordinators on 16 March there was discussion of the problems reported by schools and colleges using both the Phoenix and SEEMIS systems.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what remuneration is paid to those who mark appeals against exam results and what that remuneration is, expressed as an hourly rate.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The payment of markers is an operational issue for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in SPICe.

Smoking

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to reduce the number of girls who smoke, following the rise in the percentage of young girls who smoke from 12.4% to 18.6% reported in the Chief Medical Officer’s report 1999 Health in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is taking forward a range of measures which seek to reduce the levels of smoking by young people in Scotland. Although aimed at young people generally, aspects relating specifically to girls are addressed. The measures include health education and promotion activities such as Smokeline (pregnant young women are a priority group), the "blue sticks" TV commercial which has a strong female bias; materials for primary and secondary pupils; targeted smoking cessation services and a new enforcement package to target under age sales of tobacco. Moreover, an element of the £26 million health promotion fund which I announced on 20 August will be used for a major education drive to cut teenage smoking. We intend that this will take account of the differences between girls and boys smoking and be targeted accordingly.

Sustainable Development

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that consideration of sustainable development issues is integrated into the policy formulation processes of each of its departments.

Sarah Boyack: As an Executive, we are committed to integrating sustainable development into all our policies. That’s why I established the Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland. Chaired by me, it includes three other Ministers and two external members to take forward the sustainable development agenda within the Executive and our sponsored bodies.

  We are developing criteria which can be used in day-to-day decision making to take account of the effect of policies on the key issues of resource management, energy use and travel.

  We set out our initial thoughts in a pre-consultation document, which was discussed by key stakeholders at a meeting which I chaired. We are currently considering their views and will shortly produce a consultation paper to stimulate a wider debate throughout Scotland.

Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive with reference to the Scott Wilson Scottish Borders railway feasibility study (page 8) and to the answer to question S1O-2029 by Mr John Home Robertson on 22 June ( Official Report , col. 711), whether it will now commission a supplementary report into the potential export of timber using the southern section of the line.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not intend to commission a study into the potential export of timber via the southern section of the Borders railway. The Borders railway feasibility study concluded that under current market conditions a south Borders railway would be unlikely to improve the competitiveness of the Border forests with other sources of timber.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the anticipated modal forms of access to the Ocean Terminal development at Leith.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure adequate public transport access to the Ocean Terminal development.

Sarah Boyack: Planning consent for the Ocean Terminal Development was given subject to conditions and to the satisfactory conclusion of an agreement under section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 between City of Edinburgh Council and the applicant. The agreement provides for new public transport facilities to include capacity for a minimum of 5,200 visitors each day from the first day of the year of opening.

  The applicant accepted modal share targets for the years 2000 and 2010 as contained in City of Edinburgh Council’s "Moving Forward" policy. These are:

  


Mode 


2000 


2010 




Car 


45% 


31% 




Public Transport 


34% 


41% 




Cycle 


5% 


10% 




Walk 


16% 


18% 




  Compliance with the agreement is a matter for the council.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken into the possibility of reopening the Glenfarg stretch on the Edinburgh/Perth line and whether it will publish these.

Sarah Boyack: I am unaware of any such study.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out or are planned into the possibility of reopening the Glenfarg stretch of the Edinburgh/Perth line together with the opening of an M90 park and ride station at Kinross or thereabouts.

Sarah Boyack: I am unaware of any such study or of any plans to conduct one.

Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8788 by Sarah Boyack on 21 August 2000, (a) which organisations, individuals and businesses were asked to give evidence to the Scott Wilson study into the impact on tourism in the Borders of the re-instatement of the northern part of the Borders railway line, and of the entire line to Carlisle; (b) which organisations, individuals and businesses gave evidence; (c) where that evidence can be viewed, and (d) whether it will arrange for a copy of the evidence to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sarah Boyack: The Borders Railway Feasibility Study examined a wide range of social and economic factors affecting the viability of the project, including tourism. To this end, the study took account of a report by the Scottish Borders Tourist Board (SBTB) on the potential impact on the area’s tourist industry of a re-opened railway. This was augmented by detailed discussions with officers of the SBTB, Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Borders Enterprise. The promoters of the feasibility study agreed that this level of assessment was sufficient for its purpose. The conclusions relating to tourism can be found in Volume 2, Part 2, section 3.6 of the full report, which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9166 by Sarah Boyack on 13 September 2000, what projected timescale for development is contained in the detailed bid for the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit Scheme.

Sarah Boyack: The City of Edinburgh Council’s original bid to the Transport Challenge Fund envisaged that the project would be operational in 2001. It is now understood from the council that, due to delays related to the preparation of a Parliamentary Order and the development of the Private Finance Initiative package, the construction phase of the project is expected to commence early next year and take two years to complete.

Transport

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to re-trunk the A977 and what plans it has to upgrade the A907 to cope with anticipated traffic in the light of the site surveys undertaken for the new Forth river crossings.

Sarah Boyack: None.

Transport

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is guidance on any kind of part cross-loading of vehicles carrying timber such as, for example, where three sections of logs are loaded on to an articulated vehicle and the middle section only is cross-loaded.

Sarah Boyack: The safe loading of road vehicles and any related guidance are matters reserved to the Westminster Parliament.

Transport

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider, either on its own or in co-operation with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, funding safety testing of cross-loaded timber-carrying vehicles by the Transport Research Laboratory.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the safe loading of road vehicles and has no plans to fund the safety testing of cross-loaded timber-carrying vehicles.

Transport

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Programme for Government commitment to encourage the improvement and integration of concessionary fare schemes on public transport for pensioners and those with special needs.

Sarah Boyack: New resources will be provided to local authorities to enhance existing concessionary travel schemes in order to provide elderly people and those with disabilities in Scotland with free local bus travel within existing scheme boundaries from October 2002 for journeys outwith the morning peak.

Voluntary Sector

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether voluntary organisations in Scotland will benefit from its newly announced spending plans.

Jackie Baillie: We value highly the contribution that the voluntary sector makes to policy development and service delivery. The budget for the voluntary sector’s infrastructure, including the networks of Councils for Voluntary Service and Local Volunteer Development Agencies, will increase from £6 million in the current year to £9 million in 2001-02. Ministers have yet to consider the detailed allocation of the increased resources but will make announcements in due course.